U.S. patent number 6,160,554 [Application Number 09/044,655] was granted by the patent office on 2000-12-12 for computer file content preview window.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hewlett Packard Company. Invention is credited to Michael D Krause.
United States Patent |
6,160,554 |
Krause |
December 12, 2000 |
Computer file content preview window
Abstract
A method and apparatus for displaying information descriptive of
the contents or intended use of a file. For Graphical User
Interfaces on a computer monitor, abbreviated data for the file is
displayed in a window opened adjacent to the file icon. The
abbreviated data in this window describes the contents of the file.
The display window containing the abbreviated data is placed so as
to indicate the file to which it is attached and that it describes.
Text, graphical, and other types of data can be displayed.
Inventors: |
Krause; Michael D (Loveland,
CO) |
Assignee: |
Hewlett Packard Company (Palo
Alto, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
21933571 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/044,655 |
Filed: |
March 19, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/804;
715/835 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0481 (20130101); G06F 3/04895 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
3/023 (20060101); G06F 3/033 (20060101); G06F
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;345/348,349,356,346,350,351,354 ;707/104 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
0415529A2 |
|
Mar 1991 |
|
EP |
|
0537100A2 |
|
Apr 1993 |
|
EP |
|
0622725A1 |
|
Nov 1994 |
|
EP |
|
Other References
System 7-Machintosh Reference Guide Apple Computer, Cupertino, CA,
US XP002107789 pp. 183-185. .
System 7-Macintosh Reference Guide, Passage Tappi Journal, pp. 30,
31, 72, 282 XP002059588..
|
Primary Examiner: Bayerl; Raymond J.
Assistant Examiner: Thai; Cuong T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Tobey, Jr.; Morley C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A display window on a computer monitor, comprising:
meta-data displayed in the display window, wherein the meta-data
comprises a brief description of a first file, wherein the display
window is placed in proximity of the first file indicator, wherein
the display window appears when the cursor of the computer monitor
is placed in the proximity of the icon representing the first file,
and wherein the display window disappears when the cursor is
removed from the proximity of the icon representing the first
file.
2. The display window as in claim 1, wherein the meta-data is
obtained from the first file.
3. The display window as in claim 1, wherein the meta-data is data
selected from the group consisting of text meta-data and graphical
meta-data.
4. The display window as in claim 1, wherein the meta-data is
generated from the first file.
5. The display window as in claim 1, wherein the meta-data is
obtained from a second file.
6. The display window as in claim 1, wherein the meta-data is
generated from a second file.
7. The display window as in claim 1, further comprising:
an indicating geometry, wherein the indicating geometry is a
feature on the computer monitor connecting the display window to
the proximity of the icon representing the first file.
8. A method for displaying a display window on a computer monitor,
comprising the steps of:
receiving instruction to display meta-data, wherein the meta-data
comprises a brief description of a first file;
retrieving the meta-data;
displaying the meta-data on the computer monitor, wherein the
display window is placed in proximity of the first file
indicator;
when the cursor of the computer monitor is placed in the proximity
of the icon representing the first file, displaying the display
window on the computer monitor; and
when the cursor of the computer monitor is removed from the
proximity of the icon representing the first file, removing the
display of the display window from the computer monitor.
9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the meta-data is obtained from
the first file.
10. The method as in claim 8, wherein the meta-data is data
detected from the group consisting of text meta-data and graphical
meta-data.
11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the meta-data is generated
from the first file.
12. The method as in claim 8, wherein the meta-data is obtained
from a second file.
13. The method as in claim 8, wherein the meta-data is generated
from a second file.
14. The method as in claim 8, the method steps further
comprising:
displaying an indicating geometry on the computer monitor,
providing the indicating geometry is a feature on the computer
monitor connecting the display window to the proximity of the icon
representing the first file.
15. A program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly
embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to
perform method steps for displaying a display window on a computer
monitor, said method steps comprising:
receiving instruction to display meta-data, wherein the meta-data
comprises a brief description of a first file;
retrieving the meta-data;
displaying the meta-data on the computer monitor, wherein the
display window is placed in proximity of the first file
indicator;
when the cursor of the computer monitor is placed in the proximity
of the icon representing the first file, displaying the display
window on the computer monitor; and
when the cursor of the computer monitor is removed from the
proximity of the icon representing the first file, removing the
display of the display window from the computer monitor.
16. The program storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the
meta-data is obtained from the first file.
17. The program storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the
meta-data is data selected from the group consisting of text
meta-data and graphical meta-data.
18. The program storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the
meta-data is generated from the first file.
19. The program storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the
meta-data is obtained from a second file.
20. The program storage medium as in claim 15, wherein the
meta-data is generated from a second file.
21. The program storage medium as in claim 15, the method steps
further comprising:
displaying an indicating geometry on the computer monitor,
providing the indicating geometry is a feature on the computer
monitor connecting the display window to the proximity of the icon
representing the first file.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to computers, and more
particularly to the display of information from files stored on
computer systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ascertaining the intended use or contents of a file has been a
difficult problem for the computer operator to solve. Previously
the operator has had only two ways in which to make this
determination. The easiest and fastest means available has been to
assign a descriptive name to the file. This technique has presented
the operator with several difficulties. Among these difficulties is
the fact that on some systems file names may be limited to only 8
characters with a three character extension. Other, more flexible
systems now permit up to 255 characters. If an operator does not
use a file often, it is easy to forget the connection between the
file's name and the file's content or intended use, especially in
systems having the lessor number of characters available for naming
a file. However, even with 255 characters available, relying on the
name of a file as the only means by which one can determine content
is dependent upon how well the file was named in the first place.
If the naming was done poorly or if the content of the file
changes, the only recourse which the operator has is to rename the
file. Other drawbacks to using a long file name as a memory aid
include the effort required and the lack of reliably encountered
when entering the file's name.
Another option available to the computer operator is to launch an
application capable of interpreting the format of the file he
wishes to use or view. This solution consumes both time and
resources. The operator has to wait for the application to load and
run before he can view the file. It is also possible for the
operator to launch the wrong application. And thus, he may have to
close that application and launch another, before he is able to
determine the contents of that particular file. Of course, if the
file itself is executable, it could be executed in an effort to
determine what it contains.
Thus, there is a great need for a fast, convenient, and reliable
technique for determining the contents or intended use of a file
without depending upon the name of the file and without depending
upon launching an application capable of reading the file.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides the ability to
view an abbreviated description of a file's content or intended use
without the operator having to explicitly open it using an
application designed to interpret the file's contents or to execute
it. As an example, for systems employing a Graphical User Interface
(GUI) a preview window could be invoked by various means, such as
by placing a mouse cursor over the file name or icon, by performing
a particular mouse click or series of mouse clicks, by selecting a
context menu, or by some other means. Representative embodiments
described in the present patent document provided for a faster,
more convenient, and more reliable technique for determining the
contents or intended use of a file than has been previously
available.
Using the teachings of the present patent document, the operator
does not have to remember interpretations associated with cryptic
file names or to use long, unwieldy file names. Also, he does not
have to read the contents of the file by launching an application
program for that purpose or, if the file is executable, to actually
launch the file itself.
A software program constructed in conformance to a preferred
embodiment of the invention includes the ability to obtain
meta-data which describes a file's content or use, to display that
information on a computer monitor, and to remove that data when
appropriate.
The operator of a GUI such as Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS, or
X-Windows can choose to generate the file content preview window as
stated above by placing the mouse cursor over the file icon, by
performing a particular mouse click or series of mouse clicks, by
selecting a context menu, or by some other means. The file content
preview window may be customized to the type of file being
previewed and the type of meta-data information available for the
file. The file content preview window may be an add-on piece of
functionality for any system in which files are presented to the
operator in a graphical form such as in many graphical operating
systems that display icons with file names.
When the file content preview window is invoked, it may appear
close to and/or connected to the object to which it refers and may
overlay the object. The meta data may be textual or graphical. If
the operator chooses to preview a graphical file, such as a jpg
formatted file, the content preview window could display a
thumbnail of the image and other meta-data associated with the
file.
In a preferred embodiment described herein, the file content
preview window offers an automatic and almost instantaneous method
for previewing the contents of a file without having to launch an
application. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way
of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings provide visual representations which will
be used to more fully describe the invention and can be used by
those skilled in the art to better understand it and its inherent
advantages. In these drawings, like reference numerals identify
corresponding elements and:
FIG. 1 is a sketch of a content preview window displayed on the
screen of a computer monitor as described in various representative
embodiments of the present patent document.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computer software program for
retrieving, displaying, and removing meta-data from the display of
a computer monitor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present
invention relates to a method for quickly and easily displaying
information regarding the contents or intended use of a file. In
the following detailed description and in the several figures of
the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference
numerals.
FIG. 1 is a sketch of a monitor window 110, also referred to herein
as a Graphical User Interface 110, on a computer monitor 105. As an
example, for illustrative purposes, the monitor window 110 contains
a drive-directory window 115 and a directory content window 120. In
a typical application, a drive 125, not shown but represented by a
drive indicator 126, or a directory 130, also not shown but
represented by a directory indicator 131, on the drive 125 is
selected in the drive-directory window 115 by using the mouse or
arrow keys. The contents of that directory 130 are then displayed
in the directory content window 120.
Shown on the monitor window 110 is a file content preview window
140, also referred to herein as a display window 140, which
provides the ability to view an abbreviation of the contents of a
file 134, not shown and also referred to herein as a first file 134
but represented by a file icon 135, also referred to herein as an
icon 135, without the operator having to explicitly open it. This
is accomplished by accessing meta-data 145 associated with the file
134 or generating meta-data 145 for the file 134 on the fly when
the operator wants to preview content or intended use. Meta-data
145 is information which describes other information, and in a
preferred embodiment it is information which describes the file
134. It can either be automatically extracted from the file 134 or
manually entered. If automatically extracted and the file 134 is
textual, the file 134 may be scanned to determine if it contains
certain preselected words, phrases or constructs. On the other hand
if the file 134 is a graphical one, other types of metadata 145,
such as thumbnail sketches, faces, color compositions, frames from
a video file, etc. may be extracted. If manually entered, a second
file 136, also not shown but manually created and associated with
the first file 134, is read in order to extract the meta-data
145.
The operator of a Graphical User Interface 110 such as Microsoft
Windows, Macintosh OS, or X-Windows can choose to generate the file
content preview window 140 by placing the mouse cursor over the
file icon 135, by performing a particular mouse click or series of
mouse clicks, by selecting a context menu, or by some other means.
The action invoking the file contact preview window 140 may vary
from operating system to operating system. The file content preview
window 140 provides an overview of the file's contents which may be
customized to the type of file 134 being previewed and the type of
information available as meta-data 145 for the file 134. The file
content preview window 140 may be an add-on piece of functionality
for the computer system.
When the file content preview window 140 is invoked, it may appear
close to and/or connected to the object to which it refers and may
overlay that object. In a preferred embodiment, an indicating
geometry 141 is created on the computer monitor 105 between the
file content preview window 140 and the file icon 135 in order to
draw attention to their relationship to each other. In FIG. 1, the
indicating geometry 141 is shown touching both the file content
preview window 140 and the file icon 135. However, in other
embodiments the indicating geometry 141 may not touch either the
file content preview window 140 or the file icon 135 and may or may
not be an integral part of the file content preview window 140. In
other embodiments, the indicating geometry 141 may be a line or any
character or characters created on the computer monitor 105. In yet
another embodiment the indicating geometry 141 may be omitted.
The format of the file content preview window 140 varies depending
upon the type of file 134 being previewed. The meta-data 145 may
contain text meta-data 147, graphical meta-data 148, and/or other
types of meta-data 145, as for example color compositions. If the
operator chooses to preview a jpg file, i.e., graphical meta-data
148, the file content preview window 140 can display a thumbnail of
the image and other abbreviated meta-data 145 associated with the
file 134.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a representative embodiment of a software
computer program 250 that creates and displays the file content
preview window 140 on the computer monitor 105 as shown in FIG. 1.
The software computer program 250 retrieves meta-data 145
associated with the file 134, displays that meta-data 145 on the
monitor window 110, and removes the meta-data 145 from the monitor
window 110. Block 255 is the entry block to the software computer
program 250 and receives the command to display the meta-data 145.
Block 255 transfers control to block 260.
Block 260 retrieves the meta-data 145 from either the file 134
itself or the associated file, the second file 136. Block 260 then
transfers control to block 265.
Block 265 prepares for display the meta-data 145 which could
consist of text meta-data 147, graphical meta-data 148, and/or
other types of meta-data 145. Block 265 then transfers control to
block 270.
Block 270 displays the meta-data 145 on the monitor window 110.
Block 270 then transfers control to block 275.
Block 275 receives the command to remove meta-data from the monitor
window 110. Block 275 then transfers control to block 280.
Block 280 removes the meta-data 145 from the monitor window
110.
In the preferred embodiments described herein, the file content
preview window 140 offers an automatic and almost instantaneous
method for previewing the contents of a file without having to
launch an application. Although specific embodiments of the
invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not
to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so
described and illustrated. The invention is limited only by the
claims.
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